The Dalmatian is a breed of large-sized dog, noted for its unique black, liver spotted coat and mainly used as a carriage dog in its early days. Its roots trace back to Croatia and its historical region of Dalmatia.

Best known as the star of Disney’s '101 Dalmatians', this sleek and athletic dog breed has a history that goes back several hundred years. It started out as a coach dog but has also served in many other capacities, including hunter, firehouse dog, and circus performer. As charming in life as in film, it goes from gallant to goofy to gallant again in the blink of an eye, and loves to be a part of everything a family does.

When Dalmatians are born, they are completely white. The spots develop about two weeks later. Males are about 23 inches (58 cm) tall, and females are about 22 inches (56 cm) tall. Both weigh about 45 to 60 pounds (20 to 27 kilograms) and live about 10 to 12 years. The Dalmatian sheds heavily, even though the coat is short. Frequent brushing is required to control shedding.

Dalmatia is one of the four historical regions of Croatia. The name of the region stems from a tribe called the 'Dalmatae', who lived in the area. Later it became a Roman province, and as result a Romance culture emerged, along with the now-extinct Dalmatian language. With the arrival of Croats to the area in the 8th century, who occupied most of the hinterland, Croatian and Romance elements began to intermix in language and culture.

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